Behind The Scenes With The Heroes In Our State Forests

The things the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers do are just amazing to me...in a good way.

Many people have no idea the work they do every week throughout the Empire State. As noted on the NYS DEC site, they respond to search and rescue incidents statewide, work with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations, and volunteer search and rescue groups to locate and extract lost, injured, or distressed people.

Read More: Broome County Sheriff's Weekly Arrest Report

During the first five months of 2025, DEC Forest Rangers have conducted 139 search and rescue missions, extinguished 82 wildfires, and participated in 56 prescribed fires, which have rejuvenated 1,514 acres of land.

What NYS DEC Forest Rangers Did In July 2025

July 22 -   Forest Rangers assisted in a Wilderness Rescue for a missing, despondent person in Dutchess County. One of the Forest Rangers in the search found the deceased person.

Also on July 22nd in Essex County, DEC Rangers assisted in helping a hiker with intermittent fainting spells. Rangers and an Essex County Paramedic provided medical care and rehydration. New York State Police helicoptered the patient to a hospital.

On July 23rd, a call came in for a Wilderness Rescue about a hiker with an unstable ankle injury on Haystack Mountain in the Town of Keene, Essex County. DEC Rangers assisted New York State Police,  helping to hoist the injured hiker into a NYS Police helicopter.

On July 24th in the Town of Denning, Ulster County, a DEC Forest Ranger encountered a person in the Slide Mountain Wilderness who expressed plans to harm themselves. This person ran into the woods as he was being interviewed. Several law enforcement agencies assisted in a search and eventually located the person, who was found in good physical health.

In the Town of Warwarsing in Ulster County, Forest Rangers were a part of a
Wilderness Rescue on July 25th, responding to a call for a lost and injured hiker. The hiker was barefoot, with no food or water, despite temperatures reaching 85 degrees. After falling a couple of times and getting lost, the hiker called for help. He was found by DEC Rangers who, along with other emergency personnel, provided nourishment and assisted the hiker back to the trailhead.

For more details on these amazing things the NYS DEC Forest Rangers do, visit the NYS DEC website.

Get our free mobile app